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What a great idea from one (if not the) most conservative states in the nation. Keep in mind that while South Carolina ranks 24th in population, it ranks 8th in number of newly diagnosed HIV cases, mostly hitting young black gay/bisexual men.

The South Carolina House voted Thursday to cut all HIV/AIDS funding from the budget, a funding issue that could affect thousands of South Carolinians.

The South Carolina HIV/AIDS Care Crisis Task Force reports there are more than 14,000 people living in the state who have tested positive for HIV or AIDS. About 3,000 people rely on government funds for medications.

. . . Dr. Bambi Gaddist of the South Carolina HIV/AIDS Care Crisis Task Force says when state funding began in 2006, more than 600 people were on a waiting list for medicine. Four of those people died.

I wonder/worry how many other states will follow suite. I would think stuff like this would cause more people to not want to get tested, thus aiding the increase of infections and putting an even greater need on government programs. What idiiots.

I've come to realize that things are done very differently here outside of Rock Hill SC (just south of Charlotte NC) than back in Canton OH. Although Canton itself had a population as large as the whole county here in SC, Canton had no ASO; but due to the larger amount of people up in that area (and the decline of the steel and car industries), Ohio's social services are much better run. Up there, I filled out one form and saw one case worker to access both the food stamp and Medicaid programs. In OH, I received nearly the full federal amount of food stamps (approx $176 per mo) and was covered by OH Medicaid for prescriptions, doctors, hospitals, dental, and eye care.

However in SC, there are three identical forms and two case workers, who are located in separate buildings 10 miles apart, to provide only a partial amount of benefits. SC also uses their own formula to determine food stamp eligibility so that recipients here get only half the amount allowed by the federal formula. SC Medicaid does not provide dental or eye care for those over 21. In SC, I only receive $90 in food stamps and thanks only to the ASO covering the cost or paying the spend down amounts that SC does not cover, I have access to dental, eye care and prescriptions.

I sure would hate to have to move back to cold and snowy Ohio; but I have discussed this option with my family here and my friends up there. Obviously with the issues in the difference between the states, if I wasn't living with family, I would have already had to move back - if not for health care then for food! When push comes to shove if this ASO were to collapse (like the one in Charlotte recently did) and SC is unable (or simply doesn't want to, as this legislation shows) to provide decent health care for me, then I may have to move back north to preserve my health care, my health, and my life.

It seems, since they do take care of their sick and needy, that the Ohio Yankees aren't such bad people after all ; but I do have to wonder what happened to all that Southern "christian charity" that they used to talk about when I lived here in the Carolinas as a kid 25 yrs ago.

It seems, since they do take care of their sick and needy, that the Ohio Yankees aren't such bad people after all ; but I do have to wonder what happened to all that Southern "christian charity" that they used to talk about when I lived here in the Carolinas as a kid 25 yrs ago.

PLEASE don't lump us in with SC! I say that jokingly... kinda of. In NC, it hasn't gotten that bad yet... at least locally. Maybe a lot of it depends on the local ASO's, etc. I have heard that there might be another waiting list for ADAP in NC, but I haven't verified it. I do know that people personally who have had good luck with getting ADAP very quickly. I hope that SC gets it's crap together soon... unlike last time when people died while on waiting lists.

What a great idea from one (if not the) most conservative states in the nation. Keep in mind that while South Carolina ranks 24th in population, it ranks 8th in number of newly diagnosed HIV cases, mostly hitting young black gay/bisexual men.source

I hope Georgia doesn't follow suit.

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It's all a sham. Politics is a big game, same as the media - and same as religion. The point is to distract & control. If we're looking at what they tell us is the "big issue", we're not looking at what they are doing. In time, there will be different causes and different minorities to pick-on. All in the name of keeping the system going, and the people distracted.

That is VERY Bad News for SC Well here in New Mexico, and I'm sure Mark can chime-in-here, if your already signed-up, and in the system you really don't have to worry much about not getting what you qualify for, now with the current state-of-affairs, and being newly infected, you might want to worry a little about what money is left to cover HIV+ programs, as our State is now in dire need, and still cannot even pass the State-Budget, so that makes things VERY iffy at best, when Medicaid, ADAP and a lot of other programs will be almost cut-in-half, and that's not very good news at all waiting lists for ADAP somehow sounds VERY barbaric to me, where is the love? this is America, how can THIS SHIT HAPPEN

« Last Edit: March 09, 2010, 02:56:15 PM by denb45 »

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"it's so nice to be insane, cause no-one ask you to explain" Helen Reddy cc 1974

That is VERY Bad News for SC Well here in New Mexico, and I'm sure Mark can chime-in-here, if your already signed-up, and in the system you really don't have to worry much about not getting what you qualify for, now with the current state-of-affairs, and being newly infected, you might want to worry a little about what money is left to cover HIV+ programs, as our State is now in dire need, and still cannot even pass the State-Budget, so that makes things VERY iffy at best, when Medicaid, ADAP and a lot of other programs will be almost cut-in-half, and that's not very good news at all waiting lists for ADAP somehow sounds VERY barbaric to me, where is the love? this is America, how can THIS SHIT HAPPEN

Sadly, this shit happens because not enough Americans view health care, as a right, rather than a privilege. There are so many Americans, who have health insurance, and somehow they look down on those who don't have it, but their attitude is I have mine, so who really cares. After moving to Montreal, I would share US horror stories (my own) about getting access, etc., and people were absolutely dumbfounded. They could not grasp the concept, that all Americans did not care if their fellow citizens had health care and until they do, this shit will just keep on happening.

PLEASE don't lump us in with SC! I say that jokingly... kinda of. In NC, it hasn't gotten that bad yet... at least locally. Maybe a lot of it depends on the local ASO's, etc. I have heard that there might be another waiting list for ADAP in NC, but I haven't verified it. I do know that people personally who have had good luck with getting ADAP very quickly. I hope that SC gets it's crap together soon... unlike last time when people died while on waiting lists.

So I visited the South Carolina legislature's website, to see if I could fathom why the lower house has proposed this baffling cut. The media source linked to in OP doesn't give any reasons.

I found the relevant entry in the appropriations bill and it's true, ADAP funding of 2.4 million has been cut.

What I cannot find is any discussion in the proceedings of the house of why this is being done. In fact a search of the most recent journals of the SC House of Representatives reveals no references to ADAP at all, meaning that no speeches have been made regarding this.

Yet.

At the very least one would expect that someone in the SC political system would offer an explanation for why this cut is necessary for the good governance of the state.

This is the same type of SHIT that went on back in the early 90s were it was cheaper to just let sick people with HIV to just DIE a slow and painful death...if this is the current direction of our currentstate of affairs, THIS same SHIT could happen all over the US in just about every State.....and that's a very scary thought this type of mind-set coming from our elected State officials HELLO!!! people still DIE of AIDS without the needed meds to sustain there life, I wonder how these elected ASSHOLES sleep at night

« Last Edit: March 09, 2010, 05:24:48 PM by denb45 »

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"it's so nice to be insane, cause no-one ask you to explain" Helen Reddy cc 1974

This is the same type of SHIT that went on back in the early 90s were it was cheaper to just let sick people with HIV to just DIE a slow and painful death...if this is the current direction of our currentstate of affairs, THIS same SHIT could happen all over the US in just about every State.....and that's a very scary thought this type of mind-set coming from our elected State officials HELLO!!! people still DIE of AIDS without the needed meds to sustain there life, I wonder how these elected ASSHOLES sleep at night

Their diabolically-evil asses sleep very well. Remember when the government was supposed to represent the people?

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It's all a sham. Politics is a big game, same as the media - and same as religion. The point is to distract & control. If we're looking at what they tell us is the "big issue", we're not looking at what they are doing. In time, there will be different causes and different minorities to pick-on. All in the name of keeping the system going, and the people distracted.

You wouldn't have to use the money to pay for meds. You could use it to pay for your lawyer when you're hauled up before the Beak for tax avoidance.

On the upside, you get free healthcare in the pokey.

MtD

It's true, I wonder how many of these politicans understand that quitting your meds cold turkey means you will develop resistances so that you can't reinstate those meds at a later date. My guess is none of them.

trust me I understand I proudly hail from Charlotte and have to admit that I never dreamed that I'd be living in -ack!- South Carolina. But one brother and my mom (whom I'm living with) crossed the state line to avoid the incredibly high taxes in Charlotte/Mecklenburg county. SO I say the "carolinas" to preserve my dignity (sheesh, I am not "from" SC LOL) and since I live so close to the state line. I can literaly throw a rock over my neighbor's house and have it land it NC. To get to my house, you turn left at the state line. To get to my SC county library, I have to cross the state line twice; and the NC library is actually closer!

Just before last Christmas (and right after I moved to SC), Metrolina Aids Project, the main ASO serving Charlotte/Meck, imploded from graft and corruption similar to the recent Washington DC mess. North Carolina HIV+ citizens have actually been sent across state lines to the ASO (Catawba Care Coalitation - that's my new and first ASO ever. Yeah!) that serves York, Lancaster and Chester counties) to receive services. (Great. less resources for me now in SC as the clinic treats people from NC while SC cuts funding )

You wouldn't have to use the money to pay for meds. You could use it to pay for your lawyer when you're hauled up before the Beak for tax avoidance.

paying taxes? Buying meds?? pleasantly LOL . I'm not homeless, but Social Security disability benefits are pretty slim. I've been so far below the proverty line (thank you hiv for helping that to happen) for over 10 years, I haven't had to pay any taxes. (just sales tax on stuff). The meds I'm on run about $2400 a month, which is over 3 times my disability income.

But listen! So far the safety net has all held together, and I'm still here and alive to prove it; but it's a tenuous net at best.

This is the same type of SHIT that went on back in the early 90s were it was cheaper to just let sick people with HIV to just DIE a slow and painful death...THIS same SHIT could happen all over the US in just about every State.....and that's a very scary thought .. people still DIE of AIDS without the needed meds to sustain there life

It's true, I wonder how many of these politicans understand that quitting your meds cold turkey means you will develop resistances so that you can't reinstate those meds at a later date.

To be honest with all the crap I've been through with HIV, this touches on the part where I feel it all gets out of my hands and where I begin to worry. Worrying about the med side effects; worrying about resistance, worrying about losing and burying partners; worrying about every "regular" illness. I've reached a calm and centered place with all those issues as I had no choice but to tackle and to handle those issues. (well, there is that other choice; but my sense of self-preservation just hasn't allowed me to give up and choose death) Topping all those worries though has always been, what if I'm no longer able to get meds?

I have purposefully gone off meds three times back in the 90s because the meds weren't very good back then. Having already faced up to my own mortality with bouts of PCP and pneumonia, I chose to make a quality of life decision about going off meds. (Having literally thrown up nearly every day while on some meds, I have decided that I would rather stop the meds and die than puke that much ever again! Because barfing that much is no quality of life at all.) Every time I went off meds, I began to feel better and better for quite some time. Well, not "some time" but for an exact amount of time. Within 8 months each time I have suddenly gone from feeling good to having increasing more troublesome health problems. At 9 months every time, I was back in a hospital suddenly quite near death.

So I worry about funding, not so much for my doctors, labs, etc.; but funding for my meds! Right now I'm very lucky on several issues. I have Medicare, at least basic state Medicaid, have been on disability since 00, and my health in just the last few years has finally taken a turn for the better after nearly twenty years of medications. However, out against me is that fact that I just changed from one state to another state with different systems. (You know I used up nearly a 3-month supply of stashed meds in that changeover or that would have been almost a quarter of a year that I would have gone without meds. I'll admit that I'm already stashing some meds here and there, just in case.)

Thinking about this, it's all kind of ironic, isn't it? There are some newbies who are all concerned about starting meds, while here I am on the other side, all concerned about being able to stay on the meds. The big difference is that I've seen what not being on meds will do to you (having PCP, or the deaths of both my partners). I grudgingly go through all the rigmarole to apply, receive and continue these benefits (for which I paid in the system for many years to receive), because I don't think that's all that much effort to put into receiving these wonderful life-sustaining medications. However, every time I hear about how, through no fault of my own, I might lose my access to these meds, well that's when having HIV (which untreated leads to death) really gets me worried nowadays.

paying taxes? Buying meds?? pleasantly LOL . I'm not homeless, but Social Security disability benefits are pretty slim. I've been so far below the poverty line (thank you hiv for helping that to happen) for over 10 years, I haven't had to pay any taxes. (just sales tax on stuff). The meds I'm on run about $2400 a month, which is over 3 times my disability income.

I hear ya... I'm in the same boat...

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It's all a sham. Politics is a big game, same as the media - and same as religion. The point is to distract & control. If we're looking at what they tell us is the "big issue", we're not looking at what they are doing. In time, there will be different causes and different minorities to pick-on. All in the name of keeping the system going, and the people distracted.

I'm still trying to figure out why people willingly live in SC. I wonder if we can find the receipt and return it. It's still good right? Maybe if we hose it down a wipe it dry it won't look used.

Form what I read SC and Montana are the only States with a waiting lists for ADAP It use to be a lot worse when more States had waiting lists to get AIDS medications........Mike, I hear Ya buddy, if you make less than 2,500 a month in any state in the US, you don't pay any Federal Taxes, if your on SSDI Disability, I sure don't now as for State Taxes, that depends on your income level requirements for your State Tax board, but, I don't pay any State Taxes, cause in my State, I don't make enough to pay any

« Last Edit: March 09, 2010, 07:49:42 PM by denb45 »

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"it's so nice to be insane, cause no-one ask you to explain" Helen Reddy cc 1974

heck, what does $1k a month look like?!?! It was almost a year ago that my ssD check, after a "repayment" that took 3 years, when back up a full 1/3 from $500 to $700 a month. I've been living like a king this past year with 1/3 increase in my income. Quitting smoking just over a year, a month and a couple weeks ago has saved me a bundle too!

Ah, but I fondly remember back to the days in the 80s, with my little pop-n-pop pet shop, when I paid out buckets of money in taxes.

Don't forget those good Christians in the south also have the highest divorce rates and highest teen pregnancy rates.

Y' know, if they really want to protect the sanctity of marriage they should outlaw divorce, not gay-marriage!

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It's all a sham. Politics is a big game, same as the media - and same as religion. The point is to distract & control. If we're looking at what they tell us is the "big issue", we're not looking at what they are doing. In time, there will be different causes and different minorities to pick-on. All in the name of keeping the system going, and the people distracted.

I think everyone should have access to healthcare and get their cancer drugs. I've heard this argument before about HIV and how it is the only disease the government funds. I would say society has a good reason to pay for HIV meds-- it reduces the chances of this virus from spreading totally out of control with infection rates like we see in Africa. HIV/AIDS hits poorer people harder, too.

I would agree with those people who think their cancer drugs should be covered. No one should be worried about how they are going to pay for treatment with terminal illnesses--terminal if left untreated. They can do this by pushing for healthcare reform and not taking away treatment from HIVers.

Because their white constituents complained that because their cancer drugs aren't paid for there's no reason for tax payers to pay for HIV meds for po' black folk.

Tit forTat .....it sure sounds like it to me.....who is more deserving, and we all know who ISN'T let grandma & grand pa DIE, and let the little boy & girl with AIDS DIE, it's cheaper that way, and it's God will according to them, but hey WTF do they know

« Last Edit: March 09, 2010, 09:13:32 PM by denb45 »

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"it's so nice to be insane, cause no-one ask you to explain" Helen Reddy cc 1974

What's going on here is politics and it follows there must be a reason for these cuts. The question remains, why did the SC House Ways and Means Committee recommend that ADAP be cut?

It took me some searching but I found you the reasons in this articlehttp://www.thestate.com/2010/03/04/1185583/sc-legislators-seek-ways-to-patch.htmlThe [tax] breaks come as human services programs are being slashed. Legislators have been besieged with calls from disabled residents and their advocates after Cooper's committee approved a $5 billion spending plan last week that would end programs for nearly 26,000 people getting help from the Department of Disabilities and Special Needs.

"We keep passing all this corporate welfare," said state Rep. Gilda Cobb-Hunter, an Orangeburg Democrat who voted against the measure. "What about the welfare of the citizens of our state?"

State Rep. Joe Neal, D-Hopkins, reminded House members that the lobby Wednesday was packed with people with disabilities asking that their programs be spared cuts. "They have every right to be concerned because it ain't over," Neal said.....Those families are not the only ones losing health care help. The budget committee cut $10.7 million from Medicaid by imposing a three-drug prescription cap in a program for adults that now allows up to 10 drugs. The panel also eliminated the $2.4 million the state spends on AIDS drug treatments that now serve about 2,055 people monthly and slashed $35 million from the Department of Mental Health's $161 million budget.

for a bunch of tax breaks and lowered revenues the state is just going to start letting all the lame, infirm, sick, and diseased just die off cause it's not cost-effective for the people that are going to get the tax breaks

for a bunch of tax breaks and lowered revenues the state is just going to start letting all the lame, infirm, sick, and diseased just die off cause it's not cost-effective for the people that are going to get the tax breaks

IN the Name of the Almighty Tax-Break, I thought we lived in America, the land of the free, the home of the brave, this isn't a 3rd world country, but, It's Gods Will.... ya know.............BULL SHIT! interesting article by the way Thanks Mikey for the research, it still makes my MAD tho

« Last Edit: March 09, 2010, 09:22:49 PM by denb45 »

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"it's so nice to be insane, cause no-one ask you to explain" Helen Reddy cc 1974

So the cuts are part of a wider austerity programme being implemented by the state to reduce outlays. And naturally cuts to services for the disabled, AIDS afflicted and mentally ill cause the least agony for legislators in this election year.

So the cuts are part of a wider austerity programme being implemented by the state to reduce outlays. And naturally cuts to services for the disabled, AIDS afflicted and mentally ill cause the least agony for legislators in this election year.

MtD

Yeah , but, what they fail to realize is that some of us sick & po-folks still vote, so if they want to commit political suicide, by all means ,I won't stop them, just the voters will when it's time for re-election

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"it's so nice to be insane, cause no-one ask you to explain" Helen Reddy cc 1974

I would make it very clear that you're going to do your best to educate the electorate as to what their lawmakers are doing and how you will personally see to it that no one you know and no one you can ever talk to will vote for them ever again.

I think they count on many ill and poor people not voting. I think many of these groups feel disenfranchised. Then there are those who vote against their own interests. I was just debating with a family member who doesn't have a lot of money and has medical issues herself and her kids as well. She always votes conservative. She was complaining how she has pains in her liver (probably gallbladder) but can't get it seen about. She couldn't even get a prescription filled for a nausea med. We gave her the money for it. She votes against her own interests. Dems are by no means perfect, but I know they try to do good things to help people. The conservative dems are a whole different story.

It burns me up to know we will have spent at least $2 Trillion in Iraq but have ADAP waiting lists.

It burns me up to know we will have spent at least $2 Trillion in Iraq but have ADAP waiting lists.

Well, people waiting on ADAP aren't usually big owners of pure petroleum, so they are worthless to those who run the government.

I think France has the right idea: A government should be scared of it's citizens, not the other way around.

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It's all a sham. Politics is a big game, same as the media - and same as religion. The point is to distract & control. If we're looking at what they tell us is the "big issue", we're not looking at what they are doing. In time, there will be different causes and different minorities to pick-on. All in the name of keeping the system going, and the people distracted.

All the people on HAART should go to the state capital when its in session with blowup posters of their prescriptions. Half of them can march with prescriptions. Half with skull and cross bones placards. Then they should post it all to the White House.

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ďFrom each, according to his ability; to each, according to his needĒ 1875 K Marx

I think they count on many ill and poor people not voting. I think many of these groups feel disenfranchised. Then there are those who vote against their own interests. I was just debating with a family member who doesn't have a lot of money and has medical issues herself and her kids as well. She always votes conservative. She was complaining how she has pains in her liver (probably gallbladder) but can't get it seen about. She couldn't even get a prescription filled for a nausea med. We gave her the money for it. She votes against her own interests. Dems are by no means perfect, but I know they try to do good things to help people. The conservative dems are a whole different story.

It burns me up to know we will have spent at least $2 Trillion in Iraq but have ADAP waiting lists.

Well..............LOL I don't really trust any Politician's anyway, what I've found out is that almost all of them are only out for themselves, and don't really care about the people at all not all of them are no-good, but a lot of them are NO-GOOD, and they will sell-out to any special-interest-group that has the most money, it's the sad truth, and that is what's REALLY going on in every State, County, City, and, all of the Federal Government here in the US, and "it's not gonna stop" cause we all know that they are all a part of this problem, and almost NONE of them are part of the solution, that $2 Trillion in Iraq, and all other WARS, could be better served over here in the US, to FIX a lot of things that need to be FIXED

« Last Edit: March 10, 2010, 03:05:29 PM by denb45 »

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"it's so nice to be insane, cause no-one ask you to explain" Helen Reddy cc 1974

Then there are those who vote against their own interests. I was just debating with a family member who doesn't have a lot of money and has medical issues herself and her kids as well. She always votes conservative. She was complaining how she has pains in her liver (probably gallbladder) but can't get it seen about. She couldn't even get a prescription filled for a nausea med. We gave her the money for it. She votes against her own interests.

The majority of 'poor' or lower middle class folks in this state vote Repugnican...against their own interests. I will go to my grave trying to understand why.....

As Joe said, until Americans value health care as a right and not a privilege, nothing will change too much. So many of the clowns at those health care 'town meetings' were carrying their "ObamaCare" hate signs, and yet are recipients of Medicare.....

The 'dumbing down' of America -- it's great for the politicians, but not so hot for the rest of us.

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"Remember my sentimental friend that a heart is not judged by how much you love, but by how much you are loved by others." - The Wizard of Oz

The majority of 'poor' or lower middle class folks in this state vote Repugnican...against their own interests. I will go to my grave trying to understand why.....The 'dumbing down' of America -- it's great for the politicians, but not so hot for the rest of us.

Same is true here in Georgia - these people make a great case for the logical extermination of the species.

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It's all a sham. Politics is a big game, same as the media - and same as religion. The point is to distract & control. If we're looking at what they tell us is the "big issue", we're not looking at what they are doing. In time, there will be different causes and different minorities to pick-on. All in the name of keeping the system going, and the people distracted.